The 70-year-old
Eriksson and Lippi have had their share of battles dating back to two decades ago when they were still in the Italian league.
London : Former England manager Sven-Goran
Eriksson has been named chief coach of Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F, the club said yesterday.
Blues boss Hughton has seen
Eriksson (right) fork out over pounds 10million this summer to transform the Foxes while he has operated with loans and free transfers.
The Manchester City assistant manager was appointed as a member of
Eriksson's England coaching team in 2003, only to have to stand down when he underwent treatment for prostate cancer the following year.
Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh has held talks with the former England boss and although personal terms are yet to be agreed,
Eriksson is clear favourite to succeed Roy Hodgson.
Eriksson,who is on his way to the World Cup after being appointed the new coach of Ivory Coast, was meeting City's Ivorian defender Kolo Toure.
Manchester City boss
Eriksson would even love to have Beckham in his side, but cannot see the 32-year-old midfielder quitting Los Angeles Galaxy to return home.
Liverpool have already had a bid for Benayoun rejected by the Hammers, but
Eriksson looks likely to try to snatch the Isreal skipper from under the nose of Anfield chief Rafael Benitez.
The frustrating delay in
Eriksson's appointment is due to Thaksin wanting to reach the 75% mark of the club's 55 million shares, to be able to de-list the club from the Stock Exchange.
Eriksson tops Thaksin's wish list to succeed Stuart Pearce if the former Thai Prime Minster's pounds 81.6million takeover bid at Eastlands succeeds.